PM Modi Congratulates Lee Jae-myung on South Korea’s Presidential Victory, Emphasises Strategic Partnership
New Delhi, June 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended warm congratulations to Mr. Lee Jae-myung on his election as the President of the Republic of Korea. In a message posted on X, Prime Minister Modi said: "Congratulations to Mr. Lee Jae-Myung on being elected as the President of the Republic of Korea. Look forward to working together to further expand and strengthen the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership. @Jaemyung_Lee."
Mr. Lee’s victory in South Korea’s snap presidential election marks a significant political shift. Winning 49.4% of the vote, he defeated rival Kim Moon-soo, a candidate from the same conservative bloc as ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol. Lee's win is widely seen as a rejection of Yoon’s turbulent tenure, which culminated in impeachment after a controversial bid to impose martial law. In his inaugural address, delivered just hours after being declared president, Lee vowed to "unite the people" and protect democratic institutions. “Never again will I allow our democracy to be threatened,” he declared, referencing the political crisis that engulfed the nation under Yoon.
Lee, 61, promised a "flexible, pragmatic government" and announced the immediate activation of an emergency economic task force to address urgent national challenges. Addressing supporters outside parliament, where he once made headlines by jumping the wall to vote against Yoon’s martial law decree, Lee blamed the recent turmoil on “political factions with no desire to work for the people.” Despite the celebratory mood among his backers, Lee’s path ahead is fraught with complications.
He still faces a pending Supreme Court trial over alleged election law violations.
Though sitting presidents in South Korea are shielded from prosecution except in cases of insurrection or treason, the unresolved case casts a shadow over his early presidency. Beyond legal hurdles, Lee inherits a deeply polarized nation. Years of political division under both former Presidents Moon and Yoon have fractured South Korean society. The conservative base, particularly among young men and older voters, remains vocal and defiant — many still defending Yoon’s martial law attempt and rejecting the election outcome as fraudulent. Prime Minister Modi’s congratulatory note underscores New Delhi’s hope for continuity and progress in the India-ROK Special Strategic Partnership, which has grown steadily across trade, technology, and security domains in recent years.
